CONGRESS NEWS

Highlights in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

SUMMARY

During the last years several phase III studies comparing targeted agents (alone or in combination) to conventional chemo immunotherapy (CIT) have been published in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic leukaemia (SLL). EHA 2019 featured several presentations on the most recent progress in this field. A selection of abstracts, as well as their impact on clinical practice, are discussed below.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2019;10(5):214–9)

Highlights in benign haematology

SUMMARY

In addition to the long list of abstracts dedicated to malignant haematology, EHA 2019 also featured several sessions dedicated to benign haematological abnormalities. Results from the Northstar clinical trial program highlighted the efficacy of LentiGlobin gene therapy in transfusion-dependant β-thalassaemia. The BELIEVE study showed that Luspatercept treatment was associated with increased HbF in patients with red blood cell (RBC) transfusion dependent (TD) β-thalassaemia in both responders and non-responders. With respect to paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria, ravulizumab (a novel C5 complement inhibitor) and ACH-4471 (an inhibitor of factorD, a highly specific serine protease that cleaves factor B) proved to be promising new drugs. Finally, long term inhibition of complement C1s with the humanized monoclonal antibody sutimlimab can be a new strategy in treating patients with cold agglutinin disease.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2019;10(5):220–3)

EHA Scientific Working Group meeting on ageing and haematology

After a successful first edition in Lisbon, a second edition of this scientific working group meeting was held in Warsaw in October 2018. The objective was to organise roundtables with scientists, clinicians, onconurses and patient’s organisations to improve the management of older patients with haematological disorders. Several unsolved issues were debated as outlined below.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2019;10(3):127–9)

Best of ASH 2018

Hundreds of oral- and poster presentations were communicated during the 60^th Annual Meeting of ASH in San Diego. Of course, it is impossible to cover all topics and give detailed highlights. In this presentation, I will give you my ‘favorites’, sometimes in a historical perspective. For a more complete overview of congress highlights, I refer to the other articles in this special issue of the BJH.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2019;10(1):3–10)

Highlights in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

The introduction of targeted agents revolutionized the care for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). While these agents first proved their clinical benefit in the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) disease and in CLL patients with dismal prognostic features (e.g. del(17p), TP53 mutations) they were subsequently also tested in the first-line setting and in patients without high-risk cytogenetic characteristics. During the 2018 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), results were presented of several pivotal trials that will likely change the frontline treatment paradigm for CLL patients. A second hot topic in CLL that received lots of attention at ASH 2018 consists of minimal residual disease (MRD). Several studies were presented looking into the feasibility of obtaining a MRD negative status with (combinations of) novel targeted agents in CLL and look into the prognostic significance of obtaining MRD negativity. Finally, R/R disease continues to be the setting in which novel therapeutic options are being tested. During ASH 2018 results of several clinical trials evaluating combinations of existing targeted agents were presented in addition to data on completely new therapeutics (e.g. chimeric antigen receptor [CAR] T cell therapy) that try to make their mark in CLL. This article will summarize some of the key highlights in CLL presented at ASH 2018.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2019;10(1):11–7)

Highlights in Multiple Myeloma

Of the 4,872 abstracts presented during the 2018 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), almost a quarter was dedicated to MM, illustrating continued interest and research in this dismal disease. This text is but a small anthology on the most exciting abstracts on MM as presented at ASH 2018.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2019;10(1):20–3)

Highlights in myelodysplastic syndromes

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a heterogeneous group of clonal hematopoietic malignancies characterized by peripheral blood cytopenias resulting from ineffective hematopoiesis. MDS is associated with a risk for progression to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Progress in the field of this disease aims at decreasing the transfusion burden, delaying progression to AML, improving the quality-of-life (QoL) of patients and extending the survival. Here, we report some recent advances presented at the 60^th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH).

(BELG J HEMATOL 2019;10(1):24–30)